Razor blade sharpening device



D. HOUSEL RAZOR BLADE SHARPENING DEVICE Filed NOV. 20, 1956 Patented Oct. 26, 193 7 UNITE STARS TENT FFIQE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a safety razor-blade sharpening device.

A common form of razor-blade as used with safety razors of a well known type is made of thin flexible high grade steel and is provided with a double edge at each side thereof. These edges are actually when viewed through a microscope, defined by a row of teeth similar in nature to saw teeth, and which are in line with 10' each other when the edge is sharp. In the use of the blade, these teeth are gradually forced out of alignment thus rendering the edge dull.

The edges of a razor blade when dull may be re- L stored to their original sharpness by a rubbing action of the same (known as honing) on a hard surface which acts to force the teeth or projections forming said edges back into their normal alignment.

The principal object of this invention relates to the provision of a sharpening member which is provided with a curved honing surface on which the edges of. a razor blade are adapted to bear for a rubbing motion thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide this curved honing surface on the inside of an open ended cylindrical metallic member, or on the inside of a semi-cylindrical metallic memher.

A further object of this invention relates to the provision of a beaded edge or guard on all the exposed edges of said members.

A still further object of this invention relates to providing a relatively thin coating of hard, wear-resisting material which is preferably applied by means of. an electro-plating process, to the inside surface of the sharpening member.

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment. of the invention herein disclosed, may be made Within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the razor-blade sharpener shown as an openended cylindrical member.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modified form shown as a semi-cylindrical member.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3--3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows in end elevation a portion of the razor-blade sharpener formed as an openended elliptical member.

Figure 5 shows in end elevation a still further modified form of sharpener wherein the curvature thereof is a portion of an ellipse.

In the form shown in Figure 1, the sharpener it is preferably made of a sheet metal blank of any desired metallic character, weight and thickness rolled into a cylinder of uniform diameter with the edges joined together as at II, as shown in Figure 3, in the manner well known in the sheet metal art. While a common form of bent over lap joining H has been shown it is to be understood that the edges may be united as l by welding, brazing or by any other suitable type of sheet metal joint. The outer peripheral edges of the cylinder iii are rolled over and outwardly to define a bead l2, which is preferably reinforced by the provision of a stiff Wire (not shown) inside of the bead in the manner well known. In view of the beads l2 extending radially outwardly of the cylinder wall, the same act as guards for the fingers of the hand holding the sharpener while the razor blade is being sharpened in the manner to be hereinafter described. This bead construction also permits of a smooth inside surface within the cylinder H] from end to end.

The inside wall surface of the cylinder I0 is provided, with a relatively thin coating l3 of a, hard, wear-resisting material which is preferably applied by means of an electro-plating process. Metallic chromium has been found particularly advantageous for this purpose. Chromium is exceedingly hard, holds its bright, silverlike luster and resists corrosion indefinitely. Prior to applying the chromium coating the inside wall surface of the cylinder II] is formed perfectly smooth and true, to provide a proper foundation.

To use the sharpening member, the operator places a safety razor blade IE on the surface [3 with the edges of the blade extending longitudinally of the cylinder as shown. The blade I5 is flexed by means of the forefinger as much as desired and is moved to and fro with a rotating sliding motion on said surface until the contacting edges of the blade are properly honed. Preferably the blade I5 should be flexed suiiiciently to present the contacting edges of the blade at the proper angle, to the curved wall. With one side of the blade properly honed the same is turned over and honed in like manner on the other side. The operator will in a short time quickly acquire the requisite skill and judgment in deter- 55 mining when the razor blade is properly honed. If desired oil, lather or other suitable lubricant may be used to lubricate the honing operation.

In Figure 2, there is shown a modified form of sharpening member. In this constructional form the sharpening member IOa is made semi-cylindrical in form and of the same sheet-metal as used in the blank forming the cylinder in Figure 1. In this case both the curved edges 16 and longitudinal edges I! are provided with a continuous outwardly extending bead |2a similar in form to the bead l2 and which is similarly reinforced by a stiff wire (not shown) in the manner well known. The reinforced bead I202 acts to maintain the member Illa in its semi-cylindrical shape. As with the member ID the inside curved surface l3a is chromium plated. The sharpening member Illa is used in the same manner as described above with reference to the cylindrical member [9.

Figure 4 shows another modified form of sharpening member 20 similar to that of Figure 1 except that the same is made of elliptical shape in vertical elevation. In this form the sharpening surfaces l3b because of their curvature will permit a long sweeping movement of the blade thereon as will be readily apparent without as much twisting movement of the wrist in the manipulating thereof as compared with that required in the cylindrical member ID.

In Figure 5, the sharpening member 20a is of semi-elliptical form and provides only one sharpening surface I30.

Both the forms of Figures 4 and 5 are formed with peripheral beads identical with that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It is to be understood that the sheet metal blanks used in making the sharpening members II] and Na. may be initially chromium plated prior to their being shaped to produce said members. This invention also contemplates the use of sheet metal blanks made of alloy or stainless steels having a high degree of hardness. With blanks of this character the inside surface of the sharpening members formed therefrom need not be chromium plated. It is also within the sphere of this invention to utilize in this device any chemical element, combination of elements or alloys or combinations of any known elements or materials as a surface suitable for use as a sharpening or honing medium within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore the shape of the device is not to be limited to that shown as it is understood that the same may be given any desired curvature or configuration such for example as forming the device of two cylindrical or elliptical surfaces joined at their ends at acute angles.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A razor blade sharpening device comprising a sheet metal blank of uniform thickness in the form of a cylinder having open faces, said blank having overlapping folded interconnected end edges forming a joint for maintaining the device in cylindrical form, the inside surface of said cylinder being chromium plated, the peripheral edges of the cylinder defining each of said open faces projecting radially outwardly forming a pair of annularbeaded finger guards and giving the inner portion of the device a smooth honing surface over the entire area thereof.

DAVE I-IOUSEL. 

